Ethiopian Empire

The Ethiopian Empire (1270-1975) was an African empire that had its capital at Addis Ababa in present-day Ethiopia. An Orthodox Christian nation with Jewish roots, the Ethiopians spoke Ge'ez (South Semitic language) and Amharic, and had a unique Judeo-African culture.

Early History
In 1270 the Zagwe Empire fell and was replaced by the Solomonic dynasty of Queen Habesha (namesake of Abyssinia), who claimed descent from King Solomon of Israel and the Israelites. The Ethiopians ruled from Addis Ababa and mainly spoke either Ge'ez or Amharic, both South Semitic languages. However, despite their Jewish ancestry and pride, they were Ethiopian Orthodox.

The Ethiopians fought off Italians, Arabs, and Turks for most of their history, and allied with Portugal against the latter two in the 1500s. Ethiopia was a relatively weak nation, consisting of Galla irregulars, spearmen, and some cavalry. Their failure to modernize resulted in their lesser chance of becoming one of the seven world powers, but they remained strong and conquered neighboring kingdoms.

Conquests of Ethiopia 1836-1850
In 1836, they began to reform. By that point, they were an absolute monarchy, with 69% of the population leaning towards a Conservative Party government. They had a Protectionist trade policy, state capitalist economic policy, moralist religious policy, residency citizenship policy, and pro-military war policy. Ethiopia originally had local training methods, officer training, and weapons, making them a backwards nation. Their army was ad hoc (makeshift) without army schools, as was their navy, who had local naval officers. There was simple construction, no land, administrative, finance, or education reforms, and their transportation was not improved, sticking to dirt roads rather than railroads. With no industrial construction, the Ethiopians stuck to the old ways.



In 1837 Ethiopia's northern neighbor Egypt attempted to declare war but was distracted by the Ottoman Empire's threat. Ethiopia planned an invasion of Egypt in 1843 as Egypt dealt with a new Ottoman threat, but instead decided to invade Oman on 2 October 1844, planning a war of conquest. Ethiopia's army, although suffering heavy losses, defeated Oman's forces and proceeded to capture Somalia and Kenya in Africa. It was followed by the acquisition of military access from the Kingdom of Yemen, and they captured Salalah, Duqm, Muscat, Nizwa, and Sur on the Arabian Peninsula, conquering Oman. On 12 August 1850 Ethiopian Kenya was granted statehood, as was Ethiopian Somaliland and Ethiopian Zanzibar, and Ethiopia refused to extend slavery to the regions. It was a tough war, leaving Ethiopia weak, so they decided to postpone their plans to declare war on Egypt and annex more lands, and they instead focused on Westernization.

Emperor Theodore II Kasa planned to build up defenses, as Ethiopia was as weak as Egypt, but on 23 August he secured an alliance with Nejd and became confident that a war with Egypt would work. He fought to acquire the core of Egyptian Eritrea, and on 22 August 1852, he signed a peace that required Egypt give Ethiopia Eritrea. By that time, Ethiopia had begun to use foreign training methods and imported weapons, as well as advanced constructions. On 21 June 1853, Ethiopia made its first contact with European powers when Spain declared war in the War of the Ethiopian Eritrea Concession, demanding Ethiopian Eritrea. Nejd deserted Ethiopia, as it had during the first war with Oman, but Hedjaz, who had formed an alliance with Ethiopia, remained loyal. As Spain readied its armies, Portugal grabbed Ethiopian Zanzibar from Ethiopia without a fight on 15 February 1857, as Ethiopia did not care much for the island and did not want two European wars; the deal was sealed on 17 February.

The war with Spain went nowhere, as Spain failed to send armies or fleets to attack Ethiopia. On 1 April 1860, Ethiopian scientists discovered the Post Napoleonic Army Doctrine, which revolutionized military strategy. The doctrine organized armies into divisions and corps rather than just regiments and brigades. On 14 March 1862, after seven years and no real fighting (the Ethiopian fleet was destroyed and the Ethiopians peacefully occupied Fernando Po Island), white peace was agreed.

Survival of Ethiopia
On that day, Ethiopia started education reforms, and became more westernized. In 1868 Emperor Theodore II was killed by the British, who invaded Ethiopia because he took their embassy hostage. Ethiopia remained a strong empire in the Horn of Africa, and under Yohannis IV of Ethiopia and Menelik of Shoa the Ethiopians expanded their borders in the 1880s.

When Yohannis died fighting the Mahdists in Sudan, Menelik became Menelik II of Ethiopia and expanded the borders of Ethiopia against African tribes, and in 1896 he went to war with the expanding Italian Empire, who wanted to establish a protectorate over Ethiopia and Eritrea. At the Battle of Amba Alagi and the Battle of Adowa, Ethiopian forces crushed Italy and forced them to withdraw their claims. Apart from Liberia, Ethiopia was the only African country to remain uncolonized.

Fall of Ethiopia
Ethiopia was invaded in 1936 by an expanding Fascist Italy led by Benito Mussolini, who took over power from Vittorio Emmanuele III of Italy. In the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Italy quickly defeated the poorly-equipped and poorly-led Ethiopian army with the use of tanks, aircraft, bombs, and modernized infantry. Emperor Haile Selassie went into exile in Britain.

Return of the Emperor
Only in 1941 could Haile Selassie return. When the British captured Addis Ababa in the East African Campaign of World War II, the Emperor returned home and, escorted by Gideon Force, entered the capital in triumph. He remained Emperor until 1976, assisting the British in fighting the Axis Powers until the war's end in 1945.

Revolution
After famine and oil crises, Ethiopia began to suffer from military mutinies. In 1974, riots began and the Derg seized power. A Marxist organization backed by the Soviet Union and Cuba, the Derg imprisoned the Emperor and he died in jail. The Derg ruled Ethiopia until after the Cold War's end.

People and Culture
The population of Ethiopia (1,300,000 people in 1836) was diverse in both d weapons.ethnic and religious groups, and jobs. 42% of the people were Oromo, 31.7% Amhara, 18% African Minor, 4.2% Tigray, and 3.3% Somali. 51.1% of the people were Coptic Christians, 41.5% Animist, and 6.5% Sunni. 73.6% of the people were Conservative, 16.6% Liberal, and 9.6% Reactionary. The dominant issue in Ethiopia was moralism, the concept of good versus evil, right versus wrong. However, the concept of allowing slavery was also controversial.

The work force of Ethiopia was mainly made up of civilians. 89.6% of the people were farmers, who grew wheat, barley, corn, and flour, making foods such as injera (flatbread) and pasta, with coffee serving as a tradition. 4.7% of the people were practicioners of the ancient art of artisans, building vases and furniture that were elaborately decorated. 2.2% were soldiers of the traditional and un-modernized Ethiopian Army, 2.2% were the wealthy aristocrats, 1.1% were clergymen (especially of Coptic Christianity), and 0.1% of the workers were officers in the army.